Mimi- if you are describing the problem correctly, you don't feel too stretched out, just like there is too much pressure between your thumb and forefinger, right? If that is the case, perhaps you have too much weight being supported there. To shift the balance slightly, you could first try to tip your handlebars up so the brake hoods are continuous with the top of the bar rather than below. Try that and see how it feels. You could also try raising the bars higher if you still have adjustment there. If turning the bars up helps, but then the drops become unrideable, you could either try a different bar (I love the nitto noodle bar which is flat on top even when the drops are parallel to the ground not upturned) or you could try raising the brake levers up on the bars you have, although this requires you to unwrap the bar tape. Another nice thing with the nitto noodle, is that since it is a long reach bar you get an extra position between the flat part and hoods that you can grab, kind of like on a mountain bar. Good luck and let us know how it works itself out! -e